Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 4
Another slate, another round of underwhelming scoring, and major injuries. At this point, every fantasy football manager has had to reach out for reinforcements to field a competitive lineup. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 4 will help you determine which players make good fill-ins, and which ones to avoid.
Subsequently, our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 18 will help you navigate that turbulence to pick a winning lineup in the 2023 season finale. Additionally, FullTime Fantasy has some of the top tools of the trade and accurate rankings.
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) at Detroit
Geno Smith came out firing in Week 3, but after that, he didn’t have to do much as the Seahawks cruised past a Dolphins team missing Tua. The game was in hand, so Smith’s workload eased off. Detroit’s defense has already allowed over 300 yards to Matthew Stafford and a top-five fantasy finish to Baker Mayfield. While Kyler Murray didn’t light up the scoreboard last week, he missed plenty of chances. With the game indoors, Smith will likely have to keep pace with the Lions’ offense, making him a solid start.
Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears) vs. LA Rams
Kyler Murray and Brock Purdy have shredded the Rams’ defense over the past two games, putting up huge numbers. Williams is coming off a 21.3-point fantasy performance against the Colts and should have another opportunity to shine at home against the Rams. He’s a low-end starter you can confidently plug into lineups across all formats.
Sit ‘Em
Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Philadelphia
After tossing six touchdowns in the first two weeks against Washington and Detroit, Mayfield came back to earth against Denver in Week 3. Now, he faces the Eagles, who boast the stingiest pass defense in the league, allowing a completion rate of just 57.3% to quarterbacks in 2024. Mayfield is a clear sit this week.
Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) at Houston
Lawrence’s rough start to the season continued in Monday night’s blowout loss to Buffalo, where he put up just 9.4 fantasy points. With only two touchdowns and a season-high 220 passing yards so far, he’s been a disappointment. Even though the Texans were shredded by the Vikings last week, Lawrence struggled against them in two games last season, throwing just two touchdowns with two picks. Until we see more, he’s not a trustworthy option.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers) vs. Cincinnati
Hubbard has been a steady contributor this season, ranking 19th among running backs with 40.9 fantasy points. His best showing came last week with Andy Dalton under center. Hubbard’s role has been consistent, playing over 54% of the snaps and seeing a solid share of touches. Once rookie Jonathon Brooks is fully healthy, Hubbard’s value could take a hit, but for now, expect him to be the lead back for at least one more week.
Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) at Indianapolis
It says a lot about Harris’ season that his 13.6-point showing against the Chargers was his best so far. But this week, he’s worth your trust. Harris has been getting plenty of volume, with at least 17 carries in every game this season and nine total targets. Plus, he faces a Colts defense being torched by running backs. Joe Mixon and Josh Jacobs both rushed for over 150 yards against Indianapolis. If you can’t start Harris in this matchup, then why even have him on your roster?
Sit ‘Em
D’Andre Swift (Chicago Bears) vs. LA Rams
Swift has been a non-factor so far, tallying just 37 carries for 68 yards and 10 targets for 46 yards through three games. The Bears might start increasing Roschon Johnson’s workload, further cutting into Swift’s opportunities. Swift has done nothing to warrant trust, and even in good matchups, he’s a low-end flex option at best until he proves otherwise.
Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos) at NY Jets
Denver’s backfield is a headache for fantasy managers, with three different running backs involved last week. Williams led in snaps and targets, but Jaleel McLaughlin punched in a touchdown, while Tyler Badie outpaced them both in rushing yards. And with QB Bo Nix using his legs more—he scored the other rushing TD—there’s simply too much uncertainty to start Williams in Week 4.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Diontae Johnson (Carolina Panthers) vs. Cincinnati
The switch at quarterback meant everything for Diontae Johnson in Week 3, as he exploded against the Raiders with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Andy Dalton’s replacing Bryce Young seems to have unlocked something for Johnson, who’s in line for more heavy usage with Adam Thielen sidelined. Cincinnati’s defense has allowed at least 18.5 PPR points to the top opposing receiver in back-to-back games. Johnson looks like a strong start for Week 4 in all formats.
D.J. Moore (Chicago Bears) vs. LA Rams
D.J. Moore has been a consistent target magnet, tied with Amari Cooper at 27 targets this season. His fantasy stock has climbed every week, and his quarterback Caleb Williams earned his best PFF grade of the year in Week 3. Facing a Rams’ defense that’s been generous to wide receivers, Moore is in a great spot to continue producing. The Rams have given up the third-most fantasy points to WRs this season.
Sit ‘Em
Michael Pittman (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Pittsburgh
Pittman has struggled through a lackluster season with few yards and no touchdowns. His deep-ball production has been nonexistent, and with the return of Josh Downs, Pittman’s target share could shrink further. The Colts face a Steelers’ defense that has been tough on wide receivers, making Pittman a risky play. Until he shows a bounce-back, it’s best to keep him benched.
Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins) vs. Tennessee
Without Tua Tagovailoa under center, Waddle managed just four catches for 26 yards on five targets in Week 3 against Seattle. Until we know who will be starting for the Dolphins in Week 4, it’s hard to trust Waddle in your lineup. While Tyreek Hill is still worth playing, Waddle needs to show more before he becomes a reliable fantasy asset again.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Tyler Conklin (New York Jets) vs. Denver
Conklin turned in a solid performance last week with five catches for 93 yards on six targets. He has another chance for a big game this week, as the Broncos have been soft against tight ends, allowing an 83% completion rate and a 110.6 passer rating when targeting the position. If Patrick Surtain II locks down Garrett Wilson, the Jets will likely shift more looks to Conklin. While his floor is low, tight end production has been thin, and Conklin’s upside makes him worth a shot.
Mike Gesicki (Cincinnati Bengals) at Carolina
Despite Tee Higgins returning to the Bengals lineup, Mike Gesicki remained involved in Week 3 against Washington, with four catches for 47 yards on five targets. This week, he gets a favorable matchup against the Panthers, who are the only team to have allowed multiple touchdowns to tight ends this season. Gesicki is a low-end starter but worth considering in all leagues.
Sit ‘Em
Dalton Schultz (Houston Texans) vs. Jacksonville
The tight end landscape is bleak, but Schultz isn’t seeing enough work to warrant a start. He has just 11 targets and 48 yards through three games, failing to reach five fantasy points in any contest. As long as he’s buried behind the Texans’ top three receivers, Schultz remains a name you can safely leave on the bench.
Hunter Henry (New England Patriots) at San Francisco
Henry had a huge Week 2, but his production outside of that game has been minimal. Facing the 49ers, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to tight ends, Henry is a risky option. San Francisco’s defense is elite against the position, so it’s best to avoid Henry this week.
